The Life Of David Gale (2003)

 

Kevin Spacey and Kate Winslett star in a movie about capital punishment that makes its point without shoving it down your throat. Chilling in some parts, gruesome in others. Not something you'd watch for a good time.

Rating: C+

Go (1999)

 

One of those movies where everyone makes bad decisions and reaps the consequences. Except for maybe Katie Holmes. Her job was just to look cute and stay out of trouble. 

Rating: C+

Tammy (2014)

I adore Melissa McCarthy, but this wasn’t her best script. She did her thing, and it was funny at times, but most of the jokes were recycled. A very average comedy.

Rating: C

St. Vincent (2014)

Terrific performance from Bill Murray. The plot is your typical About-A-Boy style dysfunctional pairing between a flawed adult and mature beyond his years boy. Despite often being clichéd, it’s still witty and sometimes heartwarming.

Rating: C+

The Heat (2013)

I can’t get enough of Melissa McCarthy. I’d watch her in anything. She’s the female version of Chris Farley. Sandra Bullock. Meh. The script is vulgarity laden, crude, and offensive, but in all the right ways. I laughed a ton. Reminded me of The Other Guys (or any other mismatched buddy cop movie), only with ladies. Despite a slight fizzling at the end, the sheer number of laughs brings this movie into the B range.

Rating: B

White Oleander (2002)

An ofttimes depressing film about the tragic aftermath a mother's crime has on the life of her daughter. Excellent performances all around (except Rene Zellicker of course), especially by the daughter who ages and assumes several looks throughout the movie. A lot of strong female performances, if you're into that.

Rating: C+

Spy (2015)

Laughed a lot the first half. Laughed less in the second. Felt that the film unraveled a bit at the end, but I enjoyed it enough overall to give this a…

Rating: C+

The Hangover Part III (2013)

If you've seen the first two, it goes without saying you’ll check out the third. I liked this one better than the second, but it’s no first.

Rating: C

This Is 40 (2012)

I’m always up for a Judd Apatow movie. The writing is sharp, funny, and usually crude. He features the same cast of regulars that we all love and enjoy. The characters and situations are relatable. What’s not to like?

This Is 40 is a solid effort, but not among his best works. Certainly worth spending an evening with it though.

Rating: C+

Bridesmaids (2011)

There are far too few funny, raunchy female helmed comedies. Good ones. The only one that comes to mind is The Sweetest Thing, and that came out forever ago. Bridesmaids was hilarious. The scene following the dress fitting—you know the one—was one of the funniest things I’ve seen on screen in years. I laughed so hard I could barely breathe, my sides hurt, and tears were streaming down my eyes. This isn’t exactly high art, but it’s all you could ask for in a comedy.

Rating: B+